The Democratic International, also known as the Jamboree in Jamba, was a 1985 meeting of anti-Communist rebels held at the headquarters of UNITA in Jamba, Angola.J. Easton, Nina. ''Gang of Five: Leaders at the Center of the Conservative Crusade'', 2000. Pages 165-167. The meeting was primarily funded by former Rite Aid President

Lewis Lehrman Lewis E. "Lew" Lehrman (born August 15, 1938, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is an American investment banker, businessman, Republican Party (United States), Republican politician, economist, and historian who supports the ongoing study of America ...

and organized by anti-Communist activists Jack Abramoff and Jack Wheeler. While the Reagan administration privately supported the meeting, it did not publicize its position. The governments of Israel and South Africa supported the idea, but both respective countries were deemed inadvisable for hosting the conference. Participants in the conference included at least four leaders of anti-communist insurgent movements:

Jonas Savimbi Jonas Malheiro Savimbi (; 3 August 1934 – 22 February 2002) was an Angolan revolutionary politician and rebel military leader who founded and led the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). UNITA waged a guerrilla war agai ...

, Adolfo Calero, Pa Kao Her, and Abdul Rahim Wardak. A number of American conservative lobbyists were also in attendance, including Jack Abramoff,

, and Jack Wheeler. Military representatives of South Africa and the US, including Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, were present as well. Security at the event was handled by the South African Defence Force. The participants released a communiqué stating:

References

{{Reflist Angolan Civil War Contras Anti-communism Front organizations UNITA 1985 in Angola Nicaraguan Revolution

See also

References